Iran US Talks in Oman: Iran and the United States began high-stakes negotiations on Friday in Oman, aimed at resolving their sharp differences over Tehran's nuclear program. However, disagreements over expanding the discussion agenda threaten to derail diplomacy and could potentially trigger another conflict in the Middle East.
Iran Signals US Talks May Start After Top-Level Meetings
An Iranian official told Reuters that the talks had not formally started yet, although Iran had already communicated its demands to the U.S. via Oman. The official noted that indirect negotiations would "possibly" commence after a meeting between the chief U.S. negotiator and Oman’s foreign minister. Earlier rounds of Iran-U.S. diplomacy have relied on a shuttle-style approach.
U.S. Pushes to Broaden Talks With Iran Beyond Nuclear Issues
While both nations have expressed a willingness to restart diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program, the United States wants to widen the agenda to include Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region, and "treatment of their own people," according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
An Iranian source cautioned that including U.S. military officials, such as representatives from CENTCOM, could jeopardize the talks. Iran has insisted that the discussions in Muscat, Oman, focus solely on the nuclear issue. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner, who previously helped mediate Gaza ceasefire talks, is also participating.
Iran US Talks: Military Tensions Heighten Diplomatic Stakes
Iran’s clerical leadership remains wary of potential U.S. strikes after a military buildup by the U.S. Navy near Iranian waters. Last June, the U.S. hit Iranian nuclear targets at the end of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Tehran has claimed its uranium enrichment work has since paused.
The naval deployment, described by Trump as a massive “armada,” comes after violent crackdowns on nationwide protests in Iran last month, further intensifying tensions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that President Trump has "many options at his disposal, aside from diplomacy," highlighting the potential for military action.
Iran US Talks: Global Concern Over Potential Breakdown
World powers and regional states are concerned that failed negotiations could spark another U.S.-Iran conflict, spreading across the oil-rich Gulf region. Iran has warned that any military strike would be met with severe retaliation and cautioned Gulf nations hosting U.S. bases that they could be targeted. The country possesses one of the region’s largest ballistic missile arsenals.
Iran US Talks: Missile Program Remains a Red Line for Iran
A critical challenge for the Oman negotiations is Iran’s refusal to discuss its missile program. Tehran has clearly stated that its defense capabilities, including missile range, are non-negotiable. Ahead of the talks, Iran’s state TV reported that the Khorramshahr-4 long-range ballistic missile had been deployed at one of the Revolutionary Guards’ underground missile bases.
However, Iran has shown some flexibility on uranium enrichment. Officials said the country might hand over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU) or accept zero enrichment under a consortium agreement. Despite this, Tehran insists on its right to enrich uranium and demands that sanctions, reinstated after Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, be lifted.
Iran US Talks: Nuclear Intentions and Regional Influence
The U.S., its European allies, and Israel accuse Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover for developing weapons, which Tehran denies, stating its nuclear work is peaceful. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has compared Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its 20,000 ballistic missiles to "two lumps of cancer."
Iran’s regional influence has weakened significantly. Its key allies, often called the “Axis of Resistance,” have either been dismantled or weakened by Israel since the 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza and the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.